Hubs

UX Case Study: Hubs - Fostering Collaborative Communities

A social media platform enhancing collaboration within online communities.


  • Platform: Mobile (app)
  • Client: Nestuge Ltd.
  • Industry: Productivity, Social media
  • Live: Yes (Available on Google Play Store)
  • Design team: 2 persons
  • My role: Lead designer

Project Overview

Hubs is a social media platform designed to elevate collaboration within online communities. The platform offers live and asynchronous group features, providing a dynamic space for community engagement. Admins have the option to monetize groups, requiring payment for access, creating a sustainable ecosystem.

Online communities are now a big part of people's connections.

Project Goals

  1. Facilitate Collaboration and Interaction
  2. Provide Live and Asynchronous Group Features
  3. Integrate Monetization for Admins
Goals: To facilitate collaboration and online group profitability.

Research Phase

Conducted market research and user interviews to identify the needs of community leaders and members. Discovered a demand for platforms fostering genuine collaboration and offering both real-time and flexible interaction options.

I analysed data from the interviews and surveys to help inform design decisions.

Design and Prototyping

  1. Dynamic Group Features: Created a versatile design allowing admins to choose between live interactions or asynchronous discussions, catering to diverse community preferences.
  2. Monetization Tools: Developed a streamlined payment system, enabling admins to set fees for group access, providing an avenue for sustainable community management.
  3. User Engagement: Implemented features like multimedia sharing, event scheduling, and personalized notifications to enhance user engagement within groups.
Designs of the home, group details, and explore pages optimized for collaboration and monetization.

Development Phase

  1. Scalable Architecture: Ensured the platform's architecture can support a growing user base and diverse community sizes.
  2. Secure Payment Gateway: Integrated a secure payment gateway to safeguard transactions and protect user financial information.

Testing and Iteration

Conducted beta testing with community leaders and members to gather feedback. Iteratively improved the platform based on user suggestions, focusing on enhancing group interaction features and payment processes.

Launch and User Training

Launched Hubs with comprehensive training resources for admins on group management, including setting up payments, ensuring a smooth onboarding process.

Results

  1. Diverse Community Engagement: Hubs has successfully provided a space for diverse communities to collaborate, whether through real-time discussions or asynchronous conversations.
  2. Monetization Success: Admins can generate revenue through paid group access, fostering sustainable community management and growth.
  3. Positive User Feedback: Users appreciate the flexibility of live and asynchronous features, contributing to a vibrant and engaged community atmosphere.
Diverse community engagement and monetization.

Conclusion

Hubs has emerged as a dynamic social media platform, addressing the unique needs of community leaders and members alike. The incorporation of live and asynchronous features, coupled with effective monetization tools, has positioned Hubs as a valuable resource for fostering collaboration within online communities. The user-centric design and ongoing feedback loops ensure a platform that evolves with the changing needs of its users.

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